Smoker&#39;s pipe



Nov. 8, 1955 B. w. ARMITAGE SMOKERS PIPE Filed Dec. 18, 1951 JNVENTOR. /Qo/vso/v MAM/TAGE BY Nl r United States Patent() SMOKERS PIPE Bronson W. Armitage, Portland, Oreg., assignor of onehalf to John Raymond' Linskey, Hillsboro, Oreg.

Application December 18, 1951, Serial No. 262,317

1 Claim. (Cl. 131194) My present invention relates to smokers pipes, the invention comprising a removable grate in the bottom of the pipe bowl. The construction comprises a condenser tube which is inserted into a transverse bore intersecting the bottom of the cavity of the pipe bowl from side to side thereof, and a grate memberwhich is removably associated with the condenser tube, the condenser tube having an opening of relatively large size in its upper snrface and the grate member having a semi-cylindrical upper surface underlying said opening in spaced relation to the interior of the condenser tube whereby to provide a continuous draft slot or passage. lThe grate member is flat along its bottom surface to provide a moisture trap and a large space in which condensed moisture may accumulate. In some forms of my invention the condenser tube extends to considerable extent beyond the bowl of the pipe to provide a large metal surface for further cooling the smoke and condensing moisture therefrom. In all forms of my invention the inserted grate member is removably associated with the interior of the condenser tube whereby it may be quickly removed and cleaned, and the condensed moisture may be blown from the condenser tube and the interior of the condenser tube cleaned. The present invention provides free draft through a large, continuous slot or passage which cannot In one form of my invention the condenser tube and` the grate member both extend beyond the bowl of the pipe whereby to provide large surface areas for the radiation of heat and condensing purposes.

A further object of my invention is to provide a removable grate of the character described above which may be maintained in longitudinal position while it is partially rotated to provide variable communication between the bowl of the pipe and the bit.

A further object of the present invention is to provide grate means of the character disclosed which may be removably associated with the pipe by mounting the same upon a bit which is removably associated with thestem end of a condenserV tube inserted in the bottom of the pipe.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a pipe of the foregoing character which is made of rela'- tively few, easily manufactured and assembled parts.

The objects and advantages of the present invention may be more readily understood by reference to the `following-specifications taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a Vertical, longitudinal section of a preferred ICC form of the present invention, wherein the condenser tube extends through the pipe bowl and is open at both ends, one end holding the grate member and the other end holding a bit;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially along line 2 2 ofFig. l;

Fig. 3 is an end view taken from the right end of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken substantially along line 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a vertical, longitudinal section taken through a modified form of the present invention wherein the grate member is mounted upon the bit;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken through a further modification of the invention wherein the condenser tube is inserted in a conventional type of pipe; and

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 5.

Referring to Figs. l to 4, inclusive, there is disclosed a smokers pipe including a briar bowl 10 provided with a central cavity 11 in which tobacco may be placed, the cavity having a conical bottom. The bottom of the bowl `is provided with a transverse bore 12, the upper surface of which intersects the bottom of the bowl cavity from side to side thereof to provide an elongated, oval opening 13. A metal condenser tube 14 is inserted in the transverse bore, with one end projecting a slight distance beyond the outer surface of the bowl and the other end projecting a considerable distance therebeyond. The end of the condenser tube which projects to a considerable distance is provided with an internal, inwardly tapering, conical surface 15 which provides a taper fit with a matching surface on a bit 16. The outer surface of the condenser tube may be provided with a plurality of annular grooves 17 for decorative purposes and also to increase the radiating surfaces of the condenser tube. The bit piece communicates with the interior of the condenser tube which provides considerable space for holding condensed moisture.

` The upper surface of the condenser tube is provided with an elongated, oval opening 13, which matches the opening 13 in the bottom of the burner bowl. The open, projecting end of the condenser tube is provided with an inwardly tapering, conical surface 19 which provides a press fit with the conical surface of a locating portion 2) of a grate member 21 which plugs the open end of the condenser tube. The grate member is provided with an elongated grate portion 22 which underlies the opening 18. The grate portion comprises a semi-cylindrical upper surface 23 of slightly lesser radius than the internal radius of the condenser tube 14, and a flat lower surface 24 which provides a large space beneath the bowl. The grate portion is maintained with its upper surface in concentric, spaced relation to the condenser tube by the locating portion 20, the inner surface of the condenser tube and the adjacent semi-cylindrical surface 23 of the grate portion providing a continuous draft slot or passage having a width in the order of ten to twenty thousandths of an inch. The continuous open slot or passage cannot be plugged by loose particles of tobacco, and therefore continuous, free, easy drawing is assured. The grate portion 22 underlying the large opening provides a bed upon which the tobacco may rest to prevent the same from falling into the interior of the condenser tube. The grate member provides a solid metal heat conductor which leads to the exterior of the bowl, and is preferably provided with a large, coined head 25 which may be easily grasped and which provides a large radiating surface. The grate member may be rotated about its axis while the pipe is vin use so that the at surface 24 may be brought entirely or partially into juxtaposed relation to the opening 18, thereby permitting variable control of the draft opening without necessarily disturbing the conengagesy tents of the bowl to the extent that they fall through into the condenser tube. The normal position of use, however, is as illustrated in Figs, 1 and 2, with the flat surface 24 facing downwardly to provide a trap to prevent accumulated condensed moisture from running back into the bowl in the event that the pipe is held in the hand and moved about. In order to locate the grate surface 23 in its relation to the draft opening 18, the head 25. of the grate member is preferably provided with an index such as a notch 26 longitudinally aligned with the longitudinal centerline of the surface 23. The grate member may not only be rotated and then pressed inwardly in order to hold it in adjusted position, but it may be easily withdrawn to permit the smoker to blow through the condenser tube to discharge accumulated moisture, or to permit the insertion of a pipe cleaner or equivalent device. When the grate member is withdrawn, the bowl may be readily cleaned and any char which falls into the condenser tube may be readily removed therefrom. The inner or left end of grate portion 22 (Fig. 1) is so shaped that it may be used to scrape char from the bowl, when the grate member is withdrawn.

In Fig. I have illustrated a modification of the present invention wherein a bowl 30 is provided with a cavity 31 and a transverse bore 32 in which is fitted a condenser tube 33 as previously described. The condenser tube is provided with an oval opening 34 in its upper surface which matches the opening provided by the intersection of the bore with the cavity of the bowl. The opening 34 is partially blocked by a grate member including a grate portion 35 having a semi-cylindrical upper surface maintained in concentric, spaced relation to the interior surface of the condenser tube and a flat surface to provide a large space beneath the bowl, as previously described. The grate portion 35 is mounted upon a locating portion 36, which is cylindrical in form, and which may be slid longitudinally through the stem end of the condenser tube. The grate member in this instance is a prolongation of a stem assembly including a bit 37, into the inner end of which is screwed a threaded plug 39 having a flange 40 thereon which fits between the inner end of the bit and the adjacent end of the condenser tube 33 to provide a decorative band on the stem. Beyond the flange 40, there is a tapered portion 4i which serves to center the stem with respect to the condenser tube, and an integral bar 42 joins the portion 40 to the locating portion 36. The bit 37 is provided with a draft bore 38 which communicates with a draft bore 47 extending partially through the grate member assembly and communicating with the interior of the condenser tube through a laterally directed bore extending to the outer surface of the connector bar 42. The locating portion 36 is provided with a notch 43 in its periphery and which permits the smoke to pass from beneath the bowl into the bit 37. In this form of the invention, the outwardly extending, opposite end of the condenser tube is provided with an inwardly tapering, conical surface 44 which provides a press lit engagement for the tapered, conical surface 45 of a removable end plug 46. The end plug 46 may be removed to permit the user to blow through the condenser tube to discharge condensed moisture. In this instance, the grate portion is a part of an assembly including a removable bit and which may be withdrawn from the condenser tube through the stern end thereof. Rotation of the grate member is permissible as in the first described modification.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated a modification of my invention wherein a conventional appearing pipe is provided with the advantages of the present invention. In this modification, the pipe includes a bowl 50 having an integral shank 51 into which is fitted a bit 52 in the conventional manner. The bottom of the bowl is provided with a transverse bore 53 extending from the outer s urface thereof in longitudinal alignment with the passage 54 into which the lbit is inserted, there being a shoulderl where the bore meets the passage. A metal condenser tube 55 is inserted in the bore 53 and projects beyond the outer surface of the bowl, the condenser tube having an elongated, oval opening 56 as previously described. The opening 56 is partially blocked by a grate member including a grate portion S7v and locating portion 58 provided with a head 5.9 as previously described. In this modification, withdrawal of the plug provided by the grate member' permits blowing therethrough as in the first modification, and rotation of the head 59 provides for adjustment ofthe draft slot size, as previously described.

Having illustrated and described preferred embodiments of my invention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the same permits of modification in arrangement and detail. I claim as my invention all such modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the appended claim.

I claim: i

A smokers pipe comprising a bowl having a cavity for holding tobacco, said bowl also having a transverse bore extending therethrough from side to side with the top of said bore intersecting the bottom of the bowl cavity; a cylindrical, metal condenser tube inserted in said transverse bore and projecting therefrom at both ends, said condenser tube being open at both ends and having a relatively large oval opening in its upper surface communicating with the interior of said bowl cavity; a metal grate member inserted in one end of said condenser tube, said grate member comprising an inner, grate portion and an integral, outer, locating portion, said locating portion plugging one end of the condenser tube and comprising an externally projecting knob which may be manually grasped to rotate or- Withdraw said grate member, said grate portion projecting inwardly from said locating por tion and underlying said oval opening in said condenser tube, said grate portion having a semicylindrical longitudinal surface of lesser diameter than the internal diameterof said condenser tube and an opposed, flattened, longitudinally extending surface lying along a diameter of said semicylindrical surface; said locating portion maintaining said grate portion in spaced relation to the inner surface of said metal condenser tube whereby said cylindrical surface may be positioned uppermost to define a restricted draft slot together with the edge of said oval opening, or said fiattened surface may be rotated toward said oval opening whereby to adjustably increase the draft passage from the bowl into the condenser tube; and a bit extendinglongitudinally from the other end of said condenser tube and in communication therewith, both said grate member and said bit being frictionally retained and longitudinally removable from association with said metal condenser tube, and the interior of said metal condenser tube being unobstructed throughout when said bit and said grate member are removed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 8.5 (1,404 

